Combined track-railbed joining apparatus

ABSTRACT

A joining apparatus is provided for a model railroad track, wherein the model railroad track includes a pair of combined track-railbed sections, with each end thereof configured for abutting an end of another combined track-railbed section, including a tie array disposed on an upper portion of each railbed and a pair of spaced apart rails fixed thereto, wherein the rails are electrically and physically joined to a rail on an abutted rail by a rail connector. Each combined track-railbed section includes a joining element retainer located adjacent each end of the section, underlying the railbed adjacent an end of each rail fixed to the railbed. A joining element is removably retainable in each joining element retainer for providing horizontal, vertical and longitudinal alignment between abutted combined track railbed sections.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to model railroad track and specifically to a track joining apparatus which securely holds two sections of a combined track-roadbed assembly together and provides horizontal, vertical and longitudinal alignment therefore.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sectional model railroad track has been constructed in a variety of forms. In the simplest form, a section of track includes a pair of spaced apart, electrically conductive rails and an arrangement of ties extending between the rails, the ties being joined together to form the track section into the desired configuration, i.e., straight, curved with a variety of radii, or turnouts, with a variety of frog ratios.

Another form of sectional track includes the aforementioned elements which are secured to a section of roadbed to eliminate the necessity of laying a separate roadbed and then laying the sectional track on top thereof.

The simplest joining system consists of the positioning of a track connector, or fishplate, at the ends of the conductive rails. The connectors take the form of a thin piece of metal, which is formed substantially into a C-shape, and which is placed on the rail, extending under the bottom side thereof and around a flange at the base of the rail. The only purpose of the connectors is to provide electrical continuity between two sections of rail. The connectors are not intended to provide a physical restraining system for the track, and, although the connectors will prevent lateral movement of track sections relative to one another, they will do very little to prevent longitudinal movement, which, if not prevented, will allow the track sections to separate from one another.

The connectors, or fishplates, are rather delicate objects, particularly in the smaller gauges, e.g., N scale and smaller. The connectors are frequently secured to the rails, one connector being secured to one of the rails at one end of the section and another connector being secured to the opposing rail at the other end of the section. The connectors extend beyond the ends of the rails, and as such, are subject to impact, which may result in disfigurement, following which the connectors may not be operational to join sections of tracks or to provide an electrical connection therebetween. Because the connectors are easily damaged or distorted, assembly of sectional track must be performed by a person having a high degree of manual dexterity. Conventional, small-scale track is not suitable for use by children, and, for some adults, may be difficult to manipulate.

When such track is assembled and disassembled, there is frequently lateral movement of the track sections relative one another. This results in an enlargement of the connector, which in turn results in poor electrical connection between track sections upon reassembly. Poor electrical connection between track sections will result in poor operation of the model trains which are run on the track.

Although some forms of joining systems have been developed which provide for the longitudinal and lateral alignment of sectional track, known systems involve complex structures which are difficult to form and which are not easily injection molded. Known structures are subject to breakage, and because known joining structures are either permanently fixed to a track section or integrally formed therewith, they are not repairable. Thus, breakage of a small part of a track section results in destruction of the entire track section.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,326 to Edwards et al., granted Feb. 6, 1990, for Track joining system, describes a joining structure which is separately formed and permanently fixed to a roadbed element, and provides for longitudinal and lateral stability for the completed track.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,330 to Riley, granted Apr. 2, 1996, for Track bed simulating assembly for snap together model railroad tracks, and U.S. Pat. No. D382,607 to Riley, granted Aug. 19, 1997, for Combined toy train track and track bed, describe and depict a track section having an integrally formed joining structure.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,678 to Riley, granted May 19, 1998, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,298 to Riley, granted Sept. 26, 2000, both for Model railroad track assembly with actuator located within hollow track bed, describe placement of a switch motor under a roadbed element.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A joining apparatus is provided for a model railroad track, wherein the model railroad track includes a pair of combined track-railbed sections, with each end thereof configured for abutting an end of another combined track-railbed section, including a tie array disposed on an upper portion of each railbed and a pair of spaced apart rails fixed thereto, wherein the rails are electrically and physically joined to a rail on an abutted rail by a rail connector. Each combined track-railbed section includes a joining element retainer located adjacent each end of the section, underlying the railbed adjacent an end of each rail fixed to the railbed. A joining element is removably retainable in each joining element retainer for providing horizontal, vertical and longitudinal alignment between abutted combined track railbed sections.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a track joining system which provides horizontal, vertical, and longitudinal alignment between track sections.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a system which provides for alignment of a roadbed in a piece of sectional model railroad track.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a system which will protect track connectors from damage.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a system which provides alignment of a connector with a rail prior to actual engagement of the connector and the rail.

Still another object of the instant invention is to provide a system which incorporates alignment and interlocking elements in a unitary structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system which is easy and inexpensive to construct and which incorporates structures having simple configurations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a joining element which may easily be replaced in the event of damage or breakage.

This summary and objectives of the invention are provided to enable quick comprehension of the nature of the invention. A more thorough understanding of the invention may be obtained by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention in connection with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom, exploded perspective view of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section end view of the apparatus of the invention taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the joining element of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a turnout track section constructed according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 - 4, portions of two pieces of sectional combined model railroad track and railbed are shown generally at 10 and 12. Each section of track includes an elongate railbed 14, 16 having upper surfaces 14 a, 16 a and lower surfaces 14 b, 16 b, respectively.

An array 18, 20, of model railroad ties is located on the upper surface 14 a, 16 a of each railbed. Rails 22, 24 and 26, 28 are positioned in a spaced apart relationship on tie arrays 18, 20, respectively. The rails are electrically conductive and are generally formed from brass or nickel-silver alloy.

Referring momentarily to FIG. 4, rails 24, 26 are shown in end view. Each rail includes a base, such as 26 a, having flanges 26 b extending from either side thereof. A central web 26 c extends upward from the base and connects with a rail head 26 d. The rails are secured to the ties by means of rail “spikes” 30 which extend over the rail flanges to hold the rails on the ties. In this embodiment, the railbed, tie array and spikes are formed in an injection molding process and the rails are inserted between the spikes on top of the ties with the spike heads extending over the flanges. While the railbed and track are “in scale” for standard model railroad gauges, it will be appreciated that the spikes are greatly out of scale, particularly in the smaller scales, such as N and Z scale, in order to secure the rails to the roadbed. Fishplates, or rail connectors, 32, 34 are secured to the ends of rails 22, 28, respectively. The connectors may be permanently attached, as by soldering, or may be frictionally, removably secured. Connector 34 may be seen to be a C-shaped structure having a connecting web 34 a joined to curved portions 34 b which extend around the rail flanges. The connectors are generally formed of thin metal plate of the same type of metal used to form the rails.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 - 5, joining elements 36, 38, may be seen to underlie railbeds 14, 16, and rails 22, 24, 26 and 28. The joining elements are identically formed, unitary structures, and are symmetrical about longitudinal and transverse axes. Differentiating a joining element of the invention from the known prior art, the joining element of the invention is removable and replaceable from the railbed section, thus, in the event of breakage or damage to the joining element of the invention, it may easily be replaced. If this were not the case, breakage or damage to a joining element would render the combined track and railbed section unusable. Each joining element includes a central body portion 40. A body portion upper surface 42 is located, when in an operating position, under the fishplates joining two rail sections. A bottom side 44 of the joining element upper surface includes a joining ramp 46, having a tapered cross section, at each end thereof to facilitate joining of two combined track and railbed sections by allowing easy entry of a joining element into a joining element retainer. A joining element guide receiver 48 receives a joining element guide 50, located on each end of the combined track and railbed section adjacent the end of each rail thereof. A wasted area 52 is located between joining element guide receiver 48 and a joining element tang portion 54 to allow spring-like flexing of the joining element tang portion relative to body portion 40. Each joining element tang portion includes spaced apart tangs, each of which includes a necked portion 56 and an outwardly facing, relative to a joining element longitudinal axis, expanded region 58.

A joining element is removably received in a joining element retainer 60, located under and adjacent an end of each rail, which joining element retainer is integrally formed with a railbed section. Each joining element retainer 60 includes joining element guide 50, an enlarged portion 62, at a distal end thereof, which receives joining element tang expanded region 58, and further includes a capture element 64 located intermediate the ends of the joining element retainer, which abuts necked portion 56 and resists withdrawal of a joining element from the joining element retainer.

To form a track layout for a model railroad, sections of the combined track and railbed incorporating the joining element of the invention are abutted end-to-end. When properly aligned, the joining elements of one section will seat in the joining element retainer of the abutted section, and the fishplates on the rail ends will seat on the free end of an abutted rail. Once the track layout, or at least a portion thereof, is assembled, the combined track and railbed sections may be secured to a suitable surface by means of fasteners, such as small screws or nails, which are passed through fastener receptacles 66 and into the surface. For temporary layouts, the joining element of the invention will retain a layout in a desired configuration, as the joining element prevents longitudinal separation of the combination track-railbed sections and provides horizontal and vertical alignment between sections to insure smooth operation of trains on the layout.

Referring to FIG. 6, a turnout 70 is depicted in bottom plan view. Turnout 70 is depicted with joining elements 72, 74 and 76 in place. A switch motor 78 is operable to shift the points of turnout 70 through cooperation with a switch motor connector 80, a switch shifting bar 82 and a point shifting mechanism 84. An electrical switch 86 and electrical joiners 88 provide power to the appropriate rails as the switch pints are shifted.

Joining track sections having the joining element of the invention with track which do not have such elements is easily accomplished by the joining elements and connecting the track sections using only the fishplates, insuring that the track sections are securely fastened to prevent separation of the track sections of the invention from conventions track sections.

As shown in the drawings, the arrangement of the joining elements is such that the joining element provides protection for the fishplate. This construction provides for minimal lateral shifting of the fishplate and rail relative one another during the assembly and disassembly of the combined track and railbed sectional track, thus preventing the fishplate from being laterally widened, which would subsequently result in a poor electrical connection between rails on adjoining sections. Provision of a joining element of the invention enables use of track incorporating the joining system by most children and virtually all adults.

Once the sections are joined, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, horizontal, vertical and longitudinal alignment between the rails and the railbed is provided. Additionally, longitudinal locking is assured by the co-action of the joining elements and the joining element retainers.

From a manufacturing standpoint, the construction of the joining elements and combined track and railbed sections provide for simple, cost efficient construction. The elements may be formed by injection molding, as is the railbed.

Thus, a joining system for a combined track and railbed sections has been disclosed which provides for easy, accurate joining of sectional model railroad track. The system provides for three axis alignment of a track railbed and rails while simultaneously providing protection for track joining connectors which extend beyond the ends of the railbed. 

1. For a model railroad track, consisting of a pair of combined track-railbed sections, with each end thereof configured for abutting an end of another combined track-railbed section, including a tie array disposed on an upper portion of each railbed and a pair of spaced apart rails fixed thereto, wherein the rails are electrically and physically joined to a rail on an abutted rail by a rail connector, a joining apparatus therefore, comprising: in each combined track-railbed section, a joining element retainer located adjacent each end of said section, underlying the railbed adjacent an end of each rail fixed to said railbed; and a joining element removably retainable in each of said joining element retainer for providing horizontal, vertical and longitudinal alignment between abutted combined track railbed sections.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said joining element is symmetrical about longitudinal and transverse axes, and includes a central body portion, and a tang portion extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein said tang portion includes a necked portion and an expanded region, wherein said expanded region is captured in said joining element retainer.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said joining element retainer includes a joining element guide for aligning said joining element in said joining element retainer.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said joining element includes a joining element guide receiver for receiving said joining element guide therein.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said joining element retainer includes an enlarged portion at a distal end thereof and a capture element located intermediate the ends thereof.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said joining element includes a joining ramp on the bottom side of a rail connector support, wherein said joining ramp has a tapered cross section to facilitate insertion of the joining element into a joining element retainer.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each joining element includes a body portion, a joining element guide receiver and a tang disposed below said joining element guide receiver, and wherein a wasted area is formed between said tang and said joining element guide receiver to provide spring-like flexing of said tang relative to said body portion.
 8. For a model railroad track, consisting of a pair of combined track-railbed sections, with each end thereof configured for abutting an end of another combined track-railbed section, including a tie array disposed on an upper portion of each railbed and a pair of spaced apart rails fixed thereto, wherein the rails are electrically and physically joined to a rail on an abutted rail by a rail connector, a joining apparatus therefore, comprising: in each combined track-railbed section, a joining element retainer located adjacent each end of said section, underlying the railbed adjacent an end of each rail fixed to said railbed, wherein said joining element retainer includes a joining element guide for aligning said joining element in said joining element retainer, and which further includes an enlarged portion at a distal end thereof and a capture element located intermediate the ends thereof; and a joining element removably retainable in each of said joining element retainer for providing horizontal, vertical and longitudinal alignment between abutted combined track railbed sections, wherein said joining element is symmetrical about longitudinal and transverse axes, and includes a central body portion, and a tang portion extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein said tang portion includes a necked portion and an expanded region, wherein said expanded region is captured in said joining element retainer by said capture element.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said joining element includes a joining element guide receiver for receiving said joining element guide therein.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said joining element includes a joining ramp on the bottom side of a rail connector support, wherein said joining ramp has a tapered cross section to facilitate insertion of the joining element into a joining element retainer.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each joining element includes a body portion, a joining element guide receiver and a tang disposed below said joining element guide receiver, and wherein a wasted area is formed between said tang and said joining element guide receiver to provide spring-like flexing of said tang relative to said body portion.
 12. For a model railroad track, consisting of a pair of combined track-railbed sections, with each end thereof configured for abutting an end of another combined track-railbed section, including a tie array disposed on an upper portion of each railbed and a pair of spaced apart rails fixed thereto, wherein the rails are electrically and physically joined to a rail on an abutted rail by a rail connector, a joining apparatus therefore, comprising: in each combined track-railbed section, a joining element retainer located adjacent each end of said section, underlying the railbed adjacent an end of each rail fixed to said railbed, which includes a joining element guide; and a joining element removably retainable in each of said joining element retainer for providing horizontal, vertical and longitudinal alignment between abutted combined track railbed sections, wherein each joining element includes a body portion, a joining element guide receiver and a tang disposed below said joining element guide receiver, and wherein a wasted area is formed between said tang and said joining element guide receiver to provide spring-like flexing of said tang relative to said body portion, wherein said joining element guide is received in said joining element guide receiver for aligning said joining element in said joining element retainer.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said joining element is symmetrical about longitudinal and transverse axes, and includes a central body portion, and a tang portion extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein said tang portion includes a necked portion and an expanded region, wherein said expanded region is captured in said joining element retainer.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said joining element retainer includes an enlarged portion at a distal end thereof and a capture element located intermediate the ends thereof.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said joining element includes a joining ramp on the bottom side of a rail connector support, wherein said joining ramp has a tapered cross section to facilitate insertion of the joining element into a joining element retainer. 